The Discipline of a Loving Father

My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

Being a child of God has tremendous privileges. He is my Father, the good and kind and loving and caring Father who takes care of me in every way. Including instruction.

If all I ever got was gentle instruction with no consequences, I might grow up to be self-centered, impetuous, and disrespectful. I might also not have a true respect for those things I should stay away from.

But my Father wants me to know those things and to have them in perspective, to know them in proportion to their dangers to my life. He wants me to not have to endure serious consequences to those things. And so he disciplines me.

Discipline is a good thing in the hands of a perfect Father. Discipline is a box within which you have total freedom. Stay within the box and you’re safe. Go outside of the box and it’s not safe. Discipline is learning the lines of the box.

In the hands of a perfect Father discipline is far less severe than the possible consequences of being outside of the safe box. Eden was a box. Eating the fruit of the tree of life was outside of it. As long as Adam and Eve stayed in the box they were in perfect relationship with God, they were healthy and happy, they had Cocoa Mini-Wheats every morning with cream and life was good. Once they stepped outside of the box, listening to a serpent, they had consequences.

When God provides discipline it is to sharpen and to prepare. Discipline is not something to endure. It is something to learn from. It is instruction. Take it, learn what it is teaching and be readied for the opportunity for which God is preparing you.

If he didn’t love you he wouldn’t care what became of you. He would just let you go on your merry way to destruction. Instead, he provides discipline and redirecting rebuke. This is so that you will grow up strong and wise.